Ultrasnic beauty treatment probe

ABSTRACT

A supersonic beauty treatment device capable of effecting a beauty treatment for the skin and of slimming a selected portion of the body. A face beauty treatment head and body beauty treatment head are prepared, and either one is selectivley attached to the casing of the device. The casing has a tepped receptacle made on its front. Each head has a plug projecting from its base. The plug has threads fromed on its outer circumference. Thus, the head can be attached to the casing by screwing the plug in the receptacle, and two sets of switch contacts are formed on both sides of the center of the insulating bottoem of the receptacle. The electrically conductive inner circumference wall of the receptacle is grounded. The plug as a contact formed at is center, corresponding to the center contact of the receptacle. The plug has an electricaly conductive key formed on its base, corresponding to the set of switch contacts whereas the plug has an electronically conductive key formed on its base, corresponding to the set of switch contacts. Each plug has its sides grounded.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a supersonic beauty treatment devicewhose head can radiate supersonic wave for effecting a beauty treatmentfor the skin or for slimming the body.

BACKGROUND ART

Supersonics is sound vibrations with strong energy, and is capable ofdestroying germ bodies, exfoliating the superficial layer of skin,causing the cleaning effect and generating heat. Application of thesupersonic wave to the face will effectively cause sterilization of thesuperficial layer of skin, exfoliation of waste matter and corneum,removal of pimples from the face, and removal fat or remaining cosmeticemulsion from pores of the skin. Thus, the face can be cleaned, andcirculation of the blood can be expedited to activate the tissue ortexture. Also, relaxation of muscles is caused, and spots, wrinkles orsags can be removed.

Application of the supersonic wave to the waste flesh of the body causesgeneration of heat deep under the skin to decompose the subcutaneousfat, thereby slimming the selected part of the body.

The subcutaneous fat thus decomposed can be absorbed in blood vessels orlymphatic vessels as waste.

Application of a relatively low-power, high-frequency supersonic wave tothe skin will the cleaning effect on the skin. In contrast, the slimmingeffect is caused by the heat generated from application of therelatively high-power, low-frequency supersonic wave.

Producing the relatively low-power, high-frequency supersonic wave needsuse of a relatively light, small head, and use of a high-frequency acpower supply capable of providing a reduced electric power at anincreased frequency. Conversely, producing the relatively high-power,low-frequency supersonic wave needs use of a relatively heavy, largehead, and use of a high-frequency ac power supply capable of providingan increased power at a reduced frequency.

To meet these requirements it is necessary that two types of supersonicbeauty treatment devices, one having a large, heavy head and a lowfrequency-and-high power drive and the other having a small, light headand a high frequency-and-low power drive be prepared.

Supersonic beauty treatment devices have been widely used at home. Fromthe economical point of view it is not advantageous that two differenttypes of beauty treatment devices are prepared for home use, and it isinconvenient that such different devices be used for different purposes.

What is aimed at in the present application, therefore, is to provide asingle supersonic device capable of effecting a beauty treatment for theskin and of slimming the body.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

To attain this objective a supersonic beauty treatment device accordingto the present invention comprises: large and small heads each equippedwith a supersonic vibrator, either head being detachably fixed to thecasing of the device via connector means having one common interface,and being adapted to be applied to the skin; and an ac high-frequencypower supply connected to the supersonic vibrator of either head forsupplying it with drive power, as defined in claim 1.

In a supersonic beauty treatment device of claim 1 its connector meansmay have terminals to connect the supersonic vibrator to the achigh-frequency power supply, as defined in claim 2.

In a supersonic beauty treatment device of claim 1 its connector meansmay have a switching unit built therein for selecting a desiredfrequency among those provided by the ac high-frequency power supply, asdefined in claim 3.

In a supersonic beauty treatment device of claim 1 its connector meansmay have another switching unit built therein for selecting a desiredquantity of electric power among those provided by the ac high-frequencypower supply, as defined in claim 4.

In a supersonic beauty treatment device of claim 1 the ac high-frequencypower supply and the supersonic vibrator are built together in theconnector means, as defined in claim 5.

In a supersonic beauty treatment device of claim 1 the small and largeheads are allotted to face and body beauty treatments respectively, asdefined in claim 6.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the separate parts of a supersonic beautytreatment device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing, in cross section, the separate parts ofthe supersonic beauty treatment device;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an ac high-frequency transformer;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a supersonic beauty treatment device accordingto another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a rear view of a head for face treatment whereas FIG. 5B is aside view of the head;

FIG. 6A is a rear view of a head for body treatment whereas FIG. 6B is aside view of the head;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the supersonic beauty treatment device of FIG.4 with the face treatment head of FIG. 5 attached thereto; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an ac high-frequency transformer built inthe supersonic beauty treatment of FIG. 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The accompanying drawings show supersonic beauty treatment devicesaccording to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the separate parts of a supersonic beauty treatmentdevice according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The supersonic beauty treatment device includes two heads 2 and 3detachably attached to its casing 1, one being used in the beautytreatment for the face and the other for slimming the body.

The casing 1 has a female tapped socket 11 made on its upper, frontside, and the male plug 21 or 31 of either head 2 or 3 has threads onits circumference to mate with the female tapped socket.

Otherwise, the male plug 21 or 31 may be so sized and shaped that it maybe press-fitted in the female socket 11 rather than threadedly engagedwith the tapped socket.

The socket 11 has a center contact 12: on its insulating bottom, and twosets of switch contacts 13 a and 13 b are arranged diametricallysymmetrical with respect to the center contact 12.

The circular wall of the socket 11 is electrically conductive, and isgrounded.

The male plug 21 or 31 has a convex contact 22 or 32 at the center ofits insulating top, corresponding to the concave contact 12 of thesocket 11. Also, a key 23 a is formed on the plug 21 as a counter partto the set of switch contacts 13 a of the socket 11, and a key 33 b isformed on the plug 31 as a counter part to the set of switch contacts 13b of the socket 11. The plug 21 or 31 when mated with the socket 11 canbe grounded as its conductive circumference is put in contact with thecircular wall of the socket 11.

The set of switch contacts 13 a or 13 b can be closed or opened byputting the keys 23 a or 33 b on or apart from the set of switchcontacts 13 a or 13 b. The set of switch contacts 13 a or 13 b may be ofthe stationary type or of the depressible type, which is responsive toinsertion of the male plug for depressing and turning on.

The casing 1 has an ac high-frequency power supply 5, an LED lamp 6 anda push switch 7 mounted on its substrate 4.

The LED lamp 6 and the push switch 7 appear in the openings made on thefront side of the casing 1.

The LED lamp 6 turns on when the power supply is put in circuit, and itturns off when the power supply is disconnected from the circuit.

The push switch 7 performs the “on” and “off” control of the powersupply as follows: the first push of the push switch 7 will put thehigh-frequency power supply 5 in operation, and the second push will putit in inoperative condition, thus providing no voltage at its outputterminal.

The high-frequency power supply 5 may be equipped with a timer forsetting a predetermined length of time for treatment.

The head 2 or 3 is like a circular cylinder in appearance. The circularcylinder has a cap-like vibrator 24, 34 applied to its front top. Asupersonic vibrator element 25, 35 such as a piezoelectric element orceramics is fixed to the rear side of the cap 24, 34.

The head 2 or 3 is made of a soft, electrically insulating material suchas a synthetic resin, permitting the vibrator 24, 34 to vibrate freely.

The vibrator 24, 34 is a thin sheet of flexible metal such as copper,stainless steel, or light, hard metal such as aluminum, titanium, orduralumin, which metal sheet is hard chrome plated. The vibrator 24 ofthe head 2 for face treatment is relatively small whereas the vibrator34 of the head 3 for body treatment is relatively large.

FIG. 3 shows a wiring diagram of a high-frequency ac power supply usedin a supersonic beauty treatment device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

The high-frequency power supply 5 comprises an oscillator 51, a couplingtransformer T1 whose primary winding is connected to the oscillator 51,an amplifier 52 connected to the secondary winding of the couplingtransformer T1, and an output transformer T2 whose primary winding isconnected to the amplifier 52.

One terminal of the secondary winding of the output transformer T2 isconnected to the center terminal 2 of the socket 11, and to one of theswitch contacts 13 a of one set and one of the switch contact 13 b ofthe other set, and the other terminal of the secondary winding of theoutput transformer T2 is grounded.

The other switch contacts 13 a and 13 b are connected to aface-treatment feed-back circuit 531 and to a body-treatment feed-backcircuit 532.

Alternatively two high-frequency power supplies 5 of differentfrequencies and oscillation powers may be prepared for effecting abeauty treatment for the face and for slimming the body, and these powersupplies may be built in the heads 2 and 3. In this case the switchingcontacts 13 a and 13 b can be omitted.

One terminal of the supersonic vibrator element 25 in the face beautytreatment head 2 is connected to the center contact 22 of the plug 21,and the other terminal of the supersonic vibrator element 25 isgrounded.

When the plug 21 is inserted in the receptacle 11, the electricallyconductive key 23 a of the plug 21 is laid across the set of switchcontacts 13 a to permit electric current to flow therebetween.

One terminal of the supersonic vibrator element 35 in the body beautytreatment head 3 is connected to the center contact 32 of the plug 31,and the other terminal of the supersonic vibrator element 35 isgrounded.

When the plug 31 is inserted in the receptacle 11, the electricallyconductive key 33 b of the plug 31 is laid across the switch contacts 13b to permit electric current to flow therebetween.

The supersonic beauty treatment device of FIGS. 1 to 3 is constructed asdescribed above. In effecting a required beauty treatment for the skin,first, the plug 21 of the face beauty treatment head 2 is screwed intothe receptacle 11. When the head 2 is fastened to the casing 1 of thedevice, the supersonic vibrator element 25 of the head 2 is connected tothe high-frequency ac power supply 5.

Then, the face treatment feed-back circuit 531 is connected between thepower transformer T2 and the oscillator 51 via the closed switchingcontacts 13 a.

A certain medium such as cream or emulsion is applied to a selected skinarea to be treated or to the head 2, thereby increasing the supersonictransmission efficiency, and then, the push switch 7 is depressed tomake the power supply turn on.

The ac voltage of high frequency is applied to the supersonic vibratorelement 25 to cause the bending deformation of the vibrator element 24to produce the supersonic vibration.

The face treatment feed-back circuit 531 causes the oscillator 51 tooscillate at the same high-frequency as the supersonic vibrator element25, thus feeding back the supersonic vibrator element 25 with theoscillating power of a relatively low level, at which the drive circuitis set for the face beauty treatment.

When the supersonic oscillation starts, the head 2 is lightly applied tothe skin at right angles, and it is slowly moved to draw circles on theface.

Thus, the skin is patted by supersonic vibration to raise and removefat, waste matter or remaining cosmetic emulsion from the pores,exfoliate the old superficial skin layer, and remove corneum and pimplesfrom the face without danger and pain.

Extensive distribution of supersonic vibration on the face effectivelyexpedites circulation of the blood, thereby activating the tissue ortexture. Also, relaxation of muscles is caused, and spots, wrinkles orsags can be removed.

In effecting the slimming treatment on the body, first, the plug 31 ofthe body treatment head 3 is screwed into the socket 11. When the head 3is fastened to the casing 1 of the device, the supersonic vibratorelement 35 of the head 3 is connected to the high-frequency ac powersupply 5.

Then, the body treatment feed-back circuit 532 is connected between thepower transformer T2 and the oscillator 51 via the closed switchingcontacts 13 b.

A certain medium such as cream or emulsion is applied to a selected bodyarea to be treated or the head 3, thereby increasing the supersonictransmission efficiency.

Then, the push switch 7 is depressed to make the power supply 5 turn on.The ac voltage of high frequency is applied to the supersonic vibratorelement 35 to cause the bending deformation of the vibrator element 35to produce the supersonic vibration.

The body treatment feed-back circuit 532 causes the oscillator 51 tooscillate at the same low-frequency as the supersonic vibrator element35, thus feeding back the supersonic vibrator element 35 with theoscillating power of a relatively high level, at which the drive circuitis set for the body beauty treatment. When the supersonic oscillationstarts, the head 3 is lightly applied to the skin at right angles, andit is slowly moved to draw circles on the skin.

Thus, the skin is patted by supersonic vibration to generate heat deeplyunder the skin, thereby decomposing and removing the subcutaneous fat.

FIGS. 4 to 8 show a supersonic beauty treatment device according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

In this particular embodiment the face or body beauty treatment head 2or 3 has a tapped hole 41 made on its rear side, and a socket 11 has astud 42 standing at its center. The head 2 or 3 can be fixed to the bodyof the device by screwing the stud 42 into the tapped hole 41 of thehead 2 or 3.

The face beauty treatment head 2 has three concentric electrode rings43, 44 and 45 formed on its rear side. The body beauty treatment head 3has two concentric electrode rings 46 and 47 formed on its rear side.

The size of the inner ring 46 of the body beauty treatment head 3 isequal to the total size of the innermost and intermediate rings 43 and44 of the face beauty treatment head 2, and the diameter of the outerring 47 of the head 3 is equal to that of the outermost ring 45 of thehead 2.

The socket 11 has three contacts S1, S2 and S3 formed at differentradial distances on its bottom, so that the electrode rings 43 to 45, or46 and 47 of the head 2 or 3 may be put on these contacts S1, S2 and S3when the head 2 or 3 is screwed in the receptacle 11.

In case that the face beauty treatment head 2 is fastened to the body ofthe device, the electrode rings 43, 44 and 45 are put on the contactsS1, S2 an S3, as seen from FIG. 7. In case that the body beautytreatment head 3 is fastened to the body of the device, the wideelectrode ring 46 is put on the contacts S1 and S2, and the narrowelectrode ring 47 is put on the contact S3 (drawings omitted).

FIG. 8 shows a wiring diagram of a drive circuit for driving thesupersonic vibrator element of the head 2 or 3. The drive circuit isinstalled in the supersonic beauty treatment device. The supersonicvibrator element such as a piezoelectric element Pf is connected betweenthe contacts S1 and S3 via the electrode rings.

When the face beauty treatment head 2 is used, the switches SW1, SW2 andSW3 are opened to provide the piezoelectric element Pf with a relativelyhigh-frequency, low-electric power for vibration.

When the body beauty treatment head 3 is used, the wide electrode ring46 is put on the contacts S1 and S2 to close the switch SW1, and thenthe other switches SW2 and SW3 are closed together.

The switch SW1 can make a decision as to which type of head is used, theface beauty treatment head or the body beauty treatment head.

The closure of the switch SW1 causes the voltage appearing between thecontacts S1 and S3 to lower in frequency, so that a relativelylow-frequency, high-electric power may be applied to the piezoelectricelement Pf of the body beauty treatment head 3 for vibration.

The switch SW2 is used for controlling the gain of the drive circuitwhereas the switch SW3 is used for controlling the frequency of thedrive circuit.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 8 the face and body beauty treatmentheads 2 and 3 can have one and same drive circuit in common. The drivecircuit is responsive to attachment of which type of head 2 or 3 fordriving its supersonic vibrator at low or high frequency.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As may be understood from the above, a supersonic beauty treatmentdevice according to the present invention is equipped with a connectorfunctioning as a common interface for attaching large and small heads tothe body of the device.

The vibrating energy can be automatically controlled in respect offrequency and power to meet the type of beauty treatment simply byselecting and attaching the head to the body of the device. Thus, therange of supersonic beauty treatment is expanded.

1. A supersonic beauty treatment device comprising: large and smallheads each equipped with a supersonic vibrator, either head beingdetachably fixed to the casing of the device via connector means havingone common interface, and being adapted to be applied to the skin; andan ac high-frequency power supply connected to the supersonic vibratorof either head for supplying it with drive power.
 2. A supersonic beautytreatment device according to claim 1 wherein the connector means hasterminals to connect the supersonic vibrator to the ac high-frequencypower supply.
 3. A supersonic beauty treatment device according to claim1 wherein the connector means has a switching unit built therein forselecting a desired frequency among those provided by the achigh-frequency power supply.
 4. A supersonic beauty treatment deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the connector means has another switchingunit built therein for selecting a desired quantity of electric poweramong those provided by the ac high-frequency power supply.
 5. Asupersonic beauty treatment device of claim 1 wherein the achigh-frequency power supply and the supersonic vibrator are builttogether in the connector mean.
 6. A supersonic beauty treatment deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the small and large heads are allotted tothe face and body beauty treatments respectively.